Secondary News
Secondary English
In English during Term One, as part of our annual Write On writing competition, we challenged our students to write a persuasive letter in response to the proposal of introducing school uniform socks to Merbein P10.
All of the letters clearly told us that uniform sock would not be accepted or tolerated by our students. It was fantastic to see such passionate and persuasive responses.
The most persuasive letters were given to our judges, Mr Grimmer and Mr Morgan to read, and from these they selected the winners for each Year Level.
The winners are:
Year 7
1st Cooper Brice
2nd Edan Crouch
3rd Isabella Forrester
Year 8
1st Zhoe Willison
2nd Keigan Pope
3rd Ella Dingwall
Year 9
1st Lucy Garraway
2nd Matilda Brown
3rd Francies Naquto
Year 10
1st Indi Hansen
Joint 2nd Codi-Lee Dimasi and Jorja Donohue
3rd Lleyton Pain
Certificates and vouchers will be handed out at upcoming Year Level meetings. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to our fabulous judges.
This term our Write On writing competition focuses on narrative writing. Our prompt challenge is for students to use something from the 2003 time capsule that was recently excavated and opened. We encourage families to discuss the prompt and their child’s ideas with them in order to help get the creative ideas flowing.
Finally, please encourage your child to read 2-3 times a week at home for at least 20 minutes. This will help strengthen their reading comprehension and develop their vocabulary. All students should have a novel borrowed from the library, but, we encourage students to read what interests them, including non-fiction. Students should also be revising their spelling, punctuation and grammar each week by bringing home their Oxford My English textbook to review what they have covered in class. Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher should you have any questions about this.
The English Team
Dogs on School Grounds
If you are bringing a dog to school at pick-up or drop-off times please make sure it is on a lead and that you wait outside the gate for your child/ren. We have students with allergies and some students that are very nervous around dogs. Thankyou.
Winter uniform
With the weather starting to cool it is important students wear the full school uniform that is appropriate for Winter. This consists of the school jumper/s and jacket, warm black pants and black tights/stockings to wear under the school skirt/dress. Only plain white or plain black shirts are acceptable to be worn under the school polo top. Hoodies are NOT to be worn at school.
Phone Policy
Merbein P-10 College understands that students may bring a personal mobile phone to school, particularly if they are travelling independently to and from school.
At Merbein P-10 College:
- Students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and securely stored during school hours
- When emergencies occur, parents or carers should reach their child by calling the school’s office.
The following actions are implemented if the phone policy is not followed by students:
- First offence- Phone will be confiscated and placed in a safe in the main office. The phone is returned to the student at the end of the school day.
- Second offence- Phone will be confiscated and placed in a safe in the main office. Parent will be required to collect the phone from the school.
- Third Offence- Phone will be confiscated and placed in a safe in the main office. Parent will be required to collect the phone from the school. The students will not be able to bring their phone to school for an agreed period of time ie 2-4 weeks.
If you have any queries regarding the phone policy please contact Rob Morgan at school.
Flu Vaccines for Secondary Students
We are able to provide flu vaccines for secondary students in our Doctors in Schools clinic. Some students will be eligible for a free flu vaccine if they fit the criteria set by the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). The criteria for a free vaccine include:
- all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged from six months
- all people aged from six months with medical conditions putting them at an increased risk of severe influenza and it’s complications e.g. Cardiac disease, chronic respiratory disease (severe asthma), chronic neurological conditions, immunocompromising conditions, diabetes and other metabolic disorders, renal disease, hematological disorders, children aged six months to 10 years on long term aspirin therapy
- pregnant women (during any stage of pregnancy)
Students who do not fit the criteria will need to pay for the vaccine. The cost is $14.00 and must be paid in cash with the correct money at the clinic at the time of the appointment. There are no EFTPOS facilities available at the clinic and no change can be provided. Students will receive a receipt upon payment.
To book in for the flu vaccine, students need to book an appointment at the school office (please advise that the appointment is for a flu vaccine).
Doctors in Secondary Schools Program
Our Doctors in Secondary Schools program is available for all secondary students to access free (bulk-billed), confidential health care at school. This is a fantastic service which students can access for any of their health care needs including asthma/anaphylaxis plans, catch-up immunisations, mental/emotional health and any other medical concerns no matter how big or small. Students can see the school doctor for any reason that they would see their usual GP.
The rooms will be open every Wednesday during the school term from 9am – 1pm. Students can make appointments by contacting Yvonne in the general office or they can ask a teacher or wellbeing staff member to make the appointment for them – the only details required to make an appointment will be the student’s name and date of birth.
Parents are welcome to attend appointments if the student wishes.
School Wide Positive Behaviour (SWPB)
